Review of: Phoenix 103, Sonics 99

In the short term, it’s easy to focus on Wally Szczerbiak’s gaffe and the Sonics blowing a winnable game with a critical mistake. Szczerbiak obviously should have been listening to P.J. Carlesimo during the final timeout to learn that the Sonics had none left. A veteran can’t make those types of mistakes but it’s not all his fault.

The other four players on the court have to make themselves open and can’t do the ol’ ‘look at the passer and point to the air’ thing. They have to come to the ball and make space. So those guys have to take the blame also. Earl Watson could have darted to the backcourt for a pass and had plenty of time since there was 15.1 seconds left. It was a brutal loss because the Suns were vulnerable and ready to be beaten. Steve Nash was not sharp and if Amare Stoudemire didn’t get to the free-throw line 15 times, the Sonics would have won easily.

The Suns out-shot the Sonics 32-19 and Stoudemire was unstoppable in some stretches, although Phoenix did get a lot of calls down the stretch. And Chris Wilcox attempted 18 shots and just five free throws while Leandro Barbosa took six in just 26 minutes. The better teams are going to get the calls down the stretch and that’s what the Sonics are facing each night.

Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said if his team had made more plays during the game that it wouldn’t have come down to Szczerbiak’s mistake and he was right. Johan Petro missed 10 shots and Damien Wilkins committed three turnovers in 17 minutes. And Petro and Wilcox have to hit those layups in the final minute or either dunk the ball and get fouled. They have to score in that situation.

So it’s four days off before a matchup with Utah, but the Sonics are definitely playing better, just not always winning.

SONICS REPORT CARD

Jeff Green — Was better than he has been in the past few games but didn’t play down the stretch. He has to become more consistent and meaner around the basket — C+

Chris Wilcox — Hitting the short jumper and becoming a major weapon around the basket. This the Wilcox the Sonics wanted two years ago — B+

Kurt Thomas — Is making less plays and committing more fouls. Just three rebounds in 19 minutes and he may need the All-Star Break more than any other player — C

Kevin Durant — Was non-existent for a while and then scored five points in a row during a 9-0 run, still he has to impose himself on the game when he’s not shooting well — D+

Earl Watson — Got hit in the eye at the end of the first half and came back and gutted it out. But was not the same player as in Sacramento — C+

Nick Collison — Another double-double for the workhorse in just 24 minutes and grabbed five offensive rebounds — A

Wally Szczerbiak — A solid game other than his late-game gaffe, but that was a big gaffe — D-

Johan Petro — He took 12 shots? Yeah he did and he missed 10, although he had three blocks and seven rebounds — C

Luke Ridnour — He has to his jumper to get more minutes and he missed six of nine. Watson is playing better right now — C

Damien Wilkins — Just when it seems he is ready to snap out of his slump, he trips up and makes a couple of mistakes — C